الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية — العراق: نشرة حقائق رقم 49، 16 أيلول 2004

IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION WEEKLY UPDATE September 16, 2004 This report highlights overall accomplishments and weekly activities from USAID’s reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information on USAID’s pro- grams in Iraq please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq. Contents: Electricity ...................................................... 2 Water and Sanitation .................................... 3 Airports.......................................................... 4 Seaports ........................................................ 4 Bridges, Roads, and Railroads.................... 5 Telecommunications .................................... 5 Education ...................................................... 6 Health............................................................. 7 Economic Governance................................ 8 Agriculture ................................................... 9 Marshlands................................................. 10 Food Security............................................. 10 Local Governance ..................................... 11 Community Action Program ..................... 12 Transition Initiatives.................................. 13 Financial Summary.................................... 14 USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working with Iraq’s Interim Government. Programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, country partners, nongovern- mental organizations, and private sector partners. The USAID mission in Iraq carries out programs in education, health care, food security, infrastructure reconstruction, airport management, economic growth, community development, democracy and governance, and transition initiatives. Photo: Al Qadisiyah Governorate neighborhood council meeting USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Electricity September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power genera- tion facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working since May of 2003 to restore capacity to Iraq’s power system. • Generated a peak of 4,518 MW on October 6, 2003, exceeding the capac- ity generated before the conflict. This was the first major milestone in Iraq’s electrical system reconstruc- Highlights this week: • Average daily megawatt (MW) hours produced in Iraq have increased over the past year as a direct result of ef- forts by the Iraqi Ministry of Electric- ity and the U.S. Government to re- store Iraq’s electrical generation sys- tems. Since August 2003, average daily MW hours have increased by over 50%, more than 37,000 MWH. USAID is providing technical and project management assistance to Iraq’s existing thermal and gas tur- bine plants to help the Ministry of Electricity. USAID is also providing maintenance training. USAID’s work to improve Iraq’s electrical generation system is part of the Iraq Infrastruc- ture Reconstruction Program. USAID is implementing over $1.47 billion in power projects. A USAID power plant restoration project Average of daily MW hours August 2003 - August 2004 115000 109,904 MWH 105000 Total increase: Over 37,400 MW hours per day Spring 2004 Maintenance tion. • In summer 2004, after months of power reduction for generation unit mainte- nance, generation began steadily increasing. • Repairing thermal units, replacing turbines, rehabili- tating the power distribution network, and installing and restoring generators. • USAID has added 340 MW of capacity through maintenance and rehabilita- tion work, and also repaired a 400 KV transmission line. • USAID and the Ministry of Electricity are working to add a total of over 2,000 MW to the national grid by December 2005 through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new generation pro- jects. • Most recently, USAID has initiated a project to rehabili- tate 13 existing substations and construct 24 new sub- stations in Baghdad. These 37 substations will improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million Baghdad resi- dents. • USAID has also begun an operations and maintenance program to improve the output and reliability of 114 power plant units at 19 ther- mal and combustion gas turbine generation sites throughout Iraq. 72,435 MWH 95000 85000 75000 65000 55000 4400 MW Campaign Fall 2003 Maintenance Aug-03 Sep-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 May-04 Jun-04 Jul-04 Aug-04 USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 2 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Water and Sanitation September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to improve the efficiency and reliability of existing water and wastewater treatment facilities, especially those in the south where water quan- tity and quality are particularly low. An anticipated 11.8 million Iraqis will benefit from USAID’s $600 million in water and sanitation projects. Highlights this week: • A water system rehabilitation and modeling project will help im- prove the quantity of potable wa- ter delivered in Baghdad. The project scope includes data collec- tion, numerical modeling of Bagh- dad’s water distribution network, and replacement of damaged sec- tions of the pipe in the distribution network. This project is sched- uled for completion in December 2005. Contaminated water leaking into Baghdad neighbor- hood streets • The rehabilitation of a wastewater treatment plant in central Iraq is on sched- ule for completion by mid-November 2004. Once completed, the plant will have the capacity to serve more than 53,000 Iraqis. Currently, the plant is non-functional and septic sewage is discharged directly into the Tigris river through a bypass channel, causing a major health concern for local residents. The project will rehabilitate the facility by restoring two service network pumping stations, cleaning the plant’s aeration tanks and distribution cham- bers, and replacing and refurbishing unit processes along the sewage plant process train prior to the re-introduction of flow through the plant to treat- ment. • A new sewage network is being installed in a Salah ad Din Governorate town. The town was using an open sewer system which flowed through the market area and overflowed during the rainy season, causing a serious public health hazard. Under USAID’s Community Action Program, community members are working together to build a new underground system with 1,988 meters of pipe. This project will benefit approximately 9,000 Iraqis. • USAID’s rehabilitation of a major water treatment plant in At’ Tamim Gov- ernorate is on schedule for completion by November. The work, which be- gan in June 2004, is approximately 40 percent complete. Currently, both civil and mechanical/electrical contractors are working at the site. The major goal of this project is to repair leaks and mechanical and electrical equipment in the plant’s structure which are preventing the distribution of potable water. • Nationwide: Repaired various lift stations and treatment units. • Baghdad: Expanding one water treatment plant to increase capacity by more than 50 million gallons per day and rehabilitating sew- age treatment plants. ◊ A major wastewater treatment plant in Baghdad began operating on May 19, 2004; this is the first major plant in the country to operate in over 12 years. ◊ The sewage treatment system in Baghdad, barely functioning for years before the conflict, will be restored to almost 100-percent ca- pacity, serving 80 percent of Baghdad’s population. ◊ Standby generators are being installed at 41 Bagh- dad water facilities. • South: Rehabilitating parts of the Sweet Water Canal system, including repairing breaches, clean- ing the main reservoir, and refurbishing 14 water treat- ment plants around Basrah serving 1.75 million people. • South Central: Rehabili- tating two water plants and four sewage plants. ◊ Sewage plants in An Najaf, Al Qadisiyah, Kar- bala’, and Babil Gover- norates will serve 440,000. ◊ Water treatment in Najaf and Babil will serve resi- dents and visitors at Iraq’s holiest shrines. • North: Rehabilitating two water plants and one sew- age plant near Mosul and Kirkuk. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 3 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Airports September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to provide material and personnel for the repair of airport facili- ties, rehabilitate airport terminals, facilitate humanitarian and commercial flights, and assist the Iraqi Airport Commission Authority. • Flights have been arriv- ing and departing Baghdad International Airport since July 2003. BIAP is process- ing an average of 45 non- military arrivals and depar- tures daily. Baghdad International Airport Runway Reconstruction • Completed emergency infrastructure work at BIAP for civil air operations, in- cluding repairing Terminal C and administration offices and installing VSAT com- munications systems and 6.5 megawatt power gen- erators. • Completed most work to prepare Al Basrah Interna- tional Airport for commer- cial operations, including installing VSAT and radio communications; runway, taxiway, and apron striping; and installing baggage x- ray units and a perimeter fence. Seaports Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal was to rehabilitate and improve management at the port, manage port administration, coordinate transport from the seaport, and facilitate cargo- handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, and storage. • USAID’s $45 million pro- grams to rehabilitate and improve management at the port were completed in June 2004. • Port reopened to com- Dredger at Umm Qasr Seaport, rehabilitated by USAID mercial traffic on June 17 2003; completed first pas- senger vessel test July 16. • Up to 50 ships offload cargo at the port every month. • Completed dredging to open all 21 berths to deep- draft ships; maintenance dredging is ongoing. • Applied port tariffs on June 20, 2003. • Renovated the grain- receiving facility to process 600 MT of grain an hour. • Renovated the admini- stration building, passenger terminal, customs hall, and electrical substations. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 4 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Bridges and Roads September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goal is to rebuild major transportation routes that were damaged or ne- glected in order to restore the flow of goods and services. Tikrit Bridge beam launcher re- positioning. Traffic currently crosses the Tigris at this point over a two-lane tempo- rary bridge. Opening the four-lane Tikrit Bridge will improve passenger and com- merce traffic. • Completed 36 detailed bridge assessments and demolished irreparable sections in preparation for the rehabilitation of three major bridges in Iraq. Two bridges have been repaired and reopened while the last is set for completion in September 2004. • Repaired a floating bridge over the Tigris River improving traffic in the re- gion for 50,000 travelers a day. • Completed an assess- ment of over one hundred 1,100 km lengths of track and associated facilities throughout the country to identify priority projects. • Constructing 72 kilome- ters of new track and facili- ties between the Port of Umm Qasr and Shuaiba Junction, located west of Basrah. Telecommunications Major Accomplishments to Date As part of USAID’s effort to restore critical infrastructure, USAID is working with the Iraq Telecommunications and Postal Commission (ITPC) to restore the nation’s fiber optic network, repair the phone switching system in Baghdad and restore international telecommunications capability. Baghdad telecommunications site • Audited more than 1,200 km of the fiber optic backbone network and performed emergency re- pairs, reconnecting 20 cities and 70% of the population. • Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by in- stalling switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites. • Installed 13 new switches, and fully inte- grated them with the 14 existing switches. • Ministry of Communica- tions reactivated more than 213,000 subscriber lines. • Installed a satellite gate- way system at Baghdad’s largest telecom exchange and restored international service. • Trained ITPC engineers and technicians in the op- eration and maintenance of the satellite gateway sys- tem and the new switches. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 5 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Education September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals are to increase enrollment, improve the quality of primary and secondary education, ensure classrooms have sufficient supplies, facilitate com- munity involvement, train teachers, implement accelerated learning programs, and establish partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities. Highlights this week: • Twenty-four students and four faculty members from the nursing department of a technical institute in northern Iraq took part in a scientific research trip on August 23. The group visited the nursing department of another local technical institute, two hospitals (one for pediatric and on one for maternity care) and several other health centers in the area. The trip was supported by one of three mini-grants that were awarded to this technical institute to assist the nursing students in refocusing and enhancing their patient care knowl- edge, as well as training for preparing and writing nursing reports. The ini- tiative is part of USAID’s Higher Education and Development (HEAD) pro- gram, which is supporting partnerships between American and Iraqi universi- ties. This partnership focuses on the improvement of health education in Iraq. • Two medical colleges in northern Iraq are being re-equipped through partner- ships with American universities supported by USAID’s HEAD program. In August, six laptop computers were delivered to deans of a Ninawa’ Gover- norate university in the colleges of medicine, nursing, engineering and den- tistry, and twelve desktop computers were provided for the college of medi- cine’s computer lab. • The HEAD program is also supporting civil engineering work and the con- struction of a fiber optic network to provide intranet and Internet connec- tivity at this university. In addition, more than 400 medical and nursing books and journals, as well as 50 medical videos, were recently delivered to the two universities. Finally, procurement of medical and engineering labo- ratory equipment is underway; delivery of a state-of-the-art Nuclear Mag- netic Resonance System and other medical and engineering laboratory equipment is scheduled for Octo- ber. This partnership is focused on public health and sanitation educa- tion to support the development of Iraq’s health care system. • Facilities ◊ Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General. ◊ Rehabilitated 2,405 schools countrywide. • Supplies ◊ Distributed desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards, and kits for primary and secon- dary schools countrywide. ◊ Printed and distributed 8.7 million revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12 by mid-February 2004. • Institutional Strengthening: ◊ Completed a major initia- tive that trained nearly 33,000 secondary school teachers and administrators, including 860 master train- ers, nationwide. ◊ Conducted a pilot acceler- ated learning program in five Iraqi cities to allow out-of- school children to complete two school years in one year. More than 550 stu- dents participated. ◊ Assisted the Ministry in establishing official baseline education data for Iraq. • Higher Education: ◊ Awarded five grants worth $20.7 million to create part- nerships between U.S. and Iraqi universities. Through these partnerships, Iraqi universities are rebuilding infrastructure; re-equipping university facilities; partici- pating in international con- ferences; attending work- shops and refresher courses; and reforming cur- riculum. IT infrastructure construction at a northern Iraqi university USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 6 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Health September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals include supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health, deliver- ing essential health services, funding vaccines and high protein biscuits for pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children, providing basic pri- mary health care equipment and supplies, training and upgrading health staff, providing health education and information, and identify the specific needs of the health sector and of vulnerable populations such as women and children. • Vaccinated over 3 million children under five and 700,000 pregnant women with vaccination campaigns that included monthly immu- nization days. • Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 600,000 children under Highlights this week: • Community members in Al Basrah Governorate worked with USAID’s Community Action Program to approve an orphanage health clinic. The orphanage is run by a local organization and provides about 1,000 children with health and educational services to improve their opportunities in the future. The new clinic will improve the level of health care for these children. It is expected to be completed by the end of September. A carpentry workshop at the orphanage has already been completed. Construction of the workshop, which began in July, will now allow the orphans to gain skills which can help them in the future. USAID’s Community Action Program encourages direct citizen involvement in the rehabilitation of Iraq, enabling Iraqis to address the local needs in their respective communities. Under the program, locally formed associations prioritize the needs of their communities and develop projects that address those needs. two and 1.5 million lactating mothers. • Provided iron folate sup- plements for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age. • Screened more than 1.3 million children under five for malnutrition. • Distributed high protein biscuits to more than 450,000 children and 200,000 pregnant and nurs- ing mothers. • Provided potable water for 400,000 persons each day in Basrah city and 170,000 persons in Kirkuk and Mosul. • Provided skills training for 2,500 primary health care providers and 700 physi- cians. • Trained 2,000 health educators, teachers, reli- gious leaders and youth to mobilize communities on hygiene, diarrhea, breast- feeding, nutrition and immu- nization issues. • Disseminated information on essential health mes- sages to families around the country. • Renovated 110 primary health care centers. • Provided vaccines and cold chain equipment to selected health centers. • Developed a national plan for the fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 7 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Economic Governance September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID supports sustainable economic reforms in Iraq including examining and reforming laws, regulations, and institutions and providing a framework for pri- vate sector trade, commerce, and investment. The reforms will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Industry— among others. Highlights this week: • USAID has awarded the Iraq Economic Governance II contract to partner BearingPoint. The program will develop and implement international best practices solutions aimed at improving economic governance and the policy- enabling environment for private sector-led growth by: ◊ Reforming tax, fiscal and customs policies. ◊ Developing an IMF acceptable monetary policy by building the capacity of Iraq’s Central Bank. ◊ Developing a modern and well regulated banking sector as well as hous- ing finance, commercial law and institutional reforms which create an environment that promotes private sector-led growth and foreign direct investment. ◊ Increasing capacity of the Iraqi Electricity Industry to help the industry adopt international best practices and move towards a more commer- cially viable footing, away from State subsidies. ◊ Providing technical assistance to the Communications Industry to de- velop a policy framework and regulatory environment which encourages the development of a reliable cost-effective telecommunications industry in Iraq which fosters private sector participation. • A new database at the State Board for Lands will allow the organization to function more efficiently and safeguard files and records. The Board is the section of the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for tracking agricultural land ownership in Iraq; many of its files were damaged or destroyed during the 2003 conflict. Without proof of land ownership, farmers would be less likely to invest in their farms and unable to borrow against their farms once the financial structure is in place. The new database will assist the Board in organizing and inputting old files, converting microfilm records into a format that will store them on a computerized network, creating a database for maps and survey plans, and making the data available to all Board offices through- out Iraq using a communications system. The database will also help prevent the information from being damaged in the future. • Worked with the Ministry of Finance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar. • Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Em- ployment Program. • Provided technical assis- tance on accounting, budg- eting and lending activities at Iraq’s commercial banks. • Improved statistical analy- sis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision proce- dures at Iraq’s Central Bank. • Provided technical assis- tance for CPA’s $21 million microcredit program. • Provided technical assis- tance for the Oil for Food transition to prepare Iraqi ministries to assume re- sponsibility for OFF con- tracts. • Evaluated and updated commercial laws on private sector and foreign invest- ment. • Assisted in developing the reconstruction levy in col- laboration with the CPA and the UK Customs Service; this levy imposes a five percent tariff on imports to Iraq. • Developed a government- wide IT strategy to support the automation of planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries. • Provided technical assis- tance as well as information on contracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses through business centers. • Provided technical sup- port for the re-opening of the Iraq Stock Exchange after it was closed down for more than 15 months; 3.6 billion Iraqi dinars ($2.4 million USD) in shares were traded in the first day. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 8 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Agriculture September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s goals are to work in conjunction with Iraqi ministries, the private sec- tor, and higher education institutions to revitalize agricultural production, stimulate income and employment generation, nurture rural initiatives, and re- habilitate the natural resource base. • Summer and Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: These demonstrations are introducing farmers to new technologies and techniques through extension field days. Highlights this week: • The Ministry of Agriculture and USAID are increasing out- reach to other government ministries, the private sector, and non-governmental organi- zations to broaden the effort to transition to a market-based economy, particularly in Iraq’s rural areas. Currently, USAID is preparing a program to iden- tify and work with several widely respected associations and NGOs, and to create op- Hybrid Maize Crop Demonstration: local variety was planted on the left, imported hybrid variety on the right. Both were planted at the same time portunities for policy dialogue with government decision-makers, as well as a wider audience through roundtables and workshops. The project will also provide up-front technical support in defining issues and key debate points/questions, as well as round- table design support to assure spirited and open debate. • The Ministry of Agriculture’s (MOA) Hybrid Maize Crop Demonstration Program is making excellent progress. Demonstration plots of hybrids were planted in five central and northern Iraqi governorates. Many of these sites are experiencing close to or over 90 percent seed emergence – meaning ninety percent of the seeds have sprouted and produced seedlings. These maize demonstrations are part of USAID’s Summer Crop Demonstration Program which is introducing new plant varieties and farming techniques to farmers cultivating wheat, corn, and summer vegetables. • The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and USAID conducted a workshop on harvesting and marketing dates produced in Iraq as part of an effort to de- velop the country’s private sector. Participants focused on strategies for re- claiming Iraq’s position in the high-end international date market. The work- shop was attended by private sector representatives, university researchers, extension specialists, and public officials from Iraq’s date palm program. • Animal Health: Several veterinary clinics in Kirkuk, Fallujah, and other cities are being renovated and a grant has been made for dipping tanks to improve sheep health and wool. • Technology Support: The Ministry of Agriculture and a major university’s schools of Agriculture and Veterinary Science have been awarded grants to furnish and equip computer centers, improving research capabilities and consulting capacity. • Date Palm Propagation: In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, 40,000 elite date palm off- shoots are being used to establish mother orchards in 13 governorates as part of a multiplication program and the establishment of a na- tional register of elite varie- ties. • Agriculture Sector Transi- tion Plan: This plan, com- pleted in mid-April, ad- dresses the short-term re- covery of agricultural infra- structure as well as medium and long-term implementa- tion of policies to develop a market-based agricultural economy. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 9 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Marshlands September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s marshland restoration initiative works with local residents in support of marshland restoration and the social and economic development of marsh communities. Highlights this week: • A marshlands agriculture team has been visit- ing the summer crop demonstrations of sor- ghum established on 42.5 hectares (105 acres) of land in Basrah, Dhi Qar, and Maysan Gov- ernorates. Recent visits showed exceptional plant growth of over 75 cm. In addition, seven sites have been identified for date palm farming, which is expected to begin this month. More than 3,500 date palm offshoots will be provided for this initiative. Assessment team measures sam- ples to monitor the water flow in Iraq's marshlands • Fifteen new sites have been identified for new alfalfa demonstration plots in Maysan and Dhi Qar Governorates. Alfalfa provides a sustainable source of high protein nutritious feed for marsh Arab livestock; inadequate food supply was identified as the leading problem by animal herders in the area. • Marshland restoration activities have included surveys, pilot sites, flow and marsh hydrology modeling, and infrastructure needs assessments. • Produced a technical assessment in June 2003 in collaboration with the Minis- try of Water Resources and the a major university. • Implementing a strategy for marsh restoration, which includes ecosystem monitor- ing, wetland reconstruction, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, agribusiness, fishing and aquaculture, livestock and dairy produc- tion, and primary healthcare. • Improving capacity through laboratory and GIS development, study tours, training, and formulation of a strategy for international donor assistance and par- ticipation. Food Security Major Accomplishments to Date As part of the U.S. Government’s assistance plan, USAID played a leading role in helping to avert a humanitarian crisis in Iraq by providing assistance to the United Nations’ World Food Program through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace. Having averted a food crisis immediately following the conflict, USAID advisors continue to assist with the management and distribution of food rations for all Iraqi citizens. • Worked directly with the World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re- establish the Public Distribu- tion System (PDS) in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and providing food security throughout the country. Workers load food supplies from a World Food Program warehouse in Umm Qasr, for distribution through local neighborhood agents. USAID supports the program which provides basic food rations to a large number of needy fami- lies in Southern Iraq. • With Iraqi food distribu- tors, Food for Peace, the WFP, and Coalition Forces maintained deliveries from June through December 2003 in all 18 governorates. • Providing support to the Ministry of Trade for ongoing PDS operations. Currently, more than 480,000 metric tons of food is being deliv- ered each month. • Played a key role in an agreement between the WFP, CPA, and the MoT that provided the WFP with the resources and authority to continue to support the PDS through June 2004. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 10 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Local Governance September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s Local Governance goals include promoting diverse and representative citizen participation in governance; strengthening the management skills of city and provincial administrations and civic institutions; promoting advocacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders. • Established regional of- fices in Al Basrah, Al Hillah, Baghdad, and Mosul with local offices established in 17 out of 18 governorates and operations in all gover- norates. Highlights this week: • The Baghdad Water Au- thority is preparing to dis- tribute customer question- naires to each of the 480 districts in the city of Baghdad focusing on cus- tomers’ willingness to pay for their utilities. The questionnaire also includes questions on customers’ background as well as Al Qadisiyah Governorate neighborhood council meeting their opinions on water ser- vices, water system invest- ments, and customer billing processes. This will reach approximately 5,000 households and 40,000 residents in Baghdad city. • Thirty-seven leaders from local government councils in Al Qadisiyah Gover- norate gathered on August 28 to work with USAID Local Governance Pro- gram advisors on strategies to improve the effectiveness of neighborhood councils. • On August 29 and 30, more than 150 business leaders participated in the eighth National Agenda Conference conducted by USAID in As Sulaymani- yah Governorate. The conference was held to facilitate a national dialogue for business leaders to identify issues and strategize policies to enhance eco- nomic growth and development in a newly democratic Iraq. During the two- day event, participants discussed developing a strategy for Iraq’s economic development, ways to support Iraq’s business community, attracting foreign investment, import/export procedures, the small and medium enterprise sec- tor, workforce development, taxation, international networking, and women in business. • The Baghdad mayoralty is beginning a training program using two municipal solid waste transfer stations as training centers for the city’s sanitation ser- vices. The use of transfer stations located throughout Baghdad will improve collection efficiency and increase collection volume by 70 to 75 percent. • Awarded $15.5 million in rapid-response grants in the first program year to strengthen the capacity of municipal authorities to de- liver core municipal ser- vices. The grants were used to restore services in agri- culture, education, health, electricity, sanitation, and water. In the second year, a similar grants program worth $13 million is being imple- mented. • Facilitated the establish- ment or refreshment of 16 governorate councils, 90 district councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils. • Organized and carried out numerous selection proc- esses for governors and mayors, as well as local council elections, throughout Iraq. • Committed $2.4 million for the nationwide Civic Educa- tion Campaign, which edu- cated Iraqis on democracy and Iraq’s political situation. Rehabilitated and refur- bished government facilities. • Supported preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Baghdad, Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf. • More than 24,500 democ- racy dialogues have been conducted to date. • Supporting a series of National Agenda Dialogue Conferences, which engage stakeholders such as aca- demics, journalists, women, tribal leaders, and local government officials in dis- cussions on their roles in Iraq’s democracy. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 11 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Community Action Program September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date The Community Action Program works in rural and urban communities across Iraq to promote democracy and prevent and mitigate conflict. Working directly through partner NGOs and in consultation with local government representa- tives, USAID is creating representative, participatory community groups to identify critical priorities and implement programs to address those needs. Highlights this week: • Maysan Governorate commu- nity members have come to- gether to improve a school and a library in their neighborhood. These two projects, which were identified and implemented by community members with sup- port from USAID’s Community Action Program (CAP), are rep- resentative of projects being im- plemented throughout Iraq and demonstrate the progress com- munities are making towards rebuilding Iraq’s social institutions. Library reconstruction project in Maysan Governorate • In a major city in Maysan, the local community action group recently com- pleted the rehabilitation of a boys’ primary school. The same community has also begun to rehabilitate a library in the city. The library is now emptied and a local subcontractor has begun work on the facility. In addition to re- pairing the building, this project will also supply computers and Internet ser- vices to increase local residents’ access to modern communication systems. • Community members in Wasit Governorate organized a sports tour- nament for Iraqi youth during the summer months. This tournament provided young Iraqis with a chance to participate in physical activities that promote leadership and teamwork. Participants were rewarded with prizes ranging from new equipment to new playing facilities. Each partici- pant also received donated sports equipment. Wasit Governorate sports tournament • USAID has committed over $92 million to 1,966 projects while Iraqi communities have committed more than 25% of total funding. CAP has estab- lished over 670 community associations in 17 governorates. Five U.S. NGOs each concen- trate on a region: north, Bagh- dad, southwest central, south- east central, and south. ◊ The northern program fo- cuses on the conflict prone areas of the Sunni Triangle, Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. The partner NGO has completed 271 projects with over $11 million in total project commitments including estab- lishing a youth center in Hawija, improving the Tikrit water sup- ply, and developing income generation projects in the north. ◊ In the southwest central region, the partner NGO has established a strong presence in the Shi’i holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as Hillah through active community asso- ciations. A strong emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has provided these communities with sewage and water services, improved schools, and repaired vital social infrastructure. They have completed 219 projects and have over $13.5 million in project commitments. ◊ Income generation is an important emphasis in the Bagh- dad program where 289 projects have been completed through community action groups. A marketplace for over 700 ven- dors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps and educating medical personnel on proper disposal methods. Total project commitments are $16.2 million. ◊ In the southeast central re- gion, 125 projects are complete with a total of $13.7 million in commitments. In the Shi’i heart- land, these projects address needs resulting from decades of government neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilita- tion. ◊ The southern program has completed 378 projects through 138 community action groups which average 40% women’s participation. Projects have focused primarily on immediate community needs such as sew- age clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls’ access to education. Total project commitments are $15.9 million. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 12 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Transition Initiatives September 16, 2004 Major Accomplishments to Date USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports the transition to a par- ticipatory, stable, and democratic country. OTI provides quick-dispensing, high-impact grants. OTI’s fast-paced assistance meets critical needs—providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights. • Awarded more than 1,600 small grants totaling more than $121.6 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil soci- ety, conflict management and mitigation, human rights and transitional justice. • Supporting initiatives Highlights this week: • A group of women that operate a hand-made carpets factory in south-central Iraq have received a grant from ITI to renovate their facility. They plan to use the facility as a work place and a learning center that encourages women to be more actively involved in the business and the political decisions that shape their lives. The ITI grant for $246,000 will rehabilitate the factory to improve the ventilation and lighting systems, repair bathrooms, and provide a proper dining facility. • ITI recently provided a grant valued at $99,892 to a women’s organization in south-central Iraq for the purchase of computers, equipment, furniture, and supplies. With this assistance, members of the center are taking classes in computers, finance, business management and the internet. • An organization in northern Iraq that is working to develop positive relations among five multi-ethnic neighborhoods has received a grant from ITI. The in-kind grant for $1,500 will provide sports equipment to a recreation com- plex utilized by members of each of these neighborhoods. The organization will use sports, recreation and multi-cultural activities to encourage the di- verse communities to interact, overcome barriers that cause tension between them, and improve the quality of life for all residents of the region. • An organization that supports children’s rights and family welfare will re- ceive furniture and equipment under an ITI grant for $8,500. This grant will allow a local NGO to increase its capacity to serve families and promote the rights of children. • Artists in southern Iraq recently had the opportunity to express their vision for a new, free Iraq by designing posters for a campaign sponsored by a USAID’s Iraq Transition Initiative. Iraqi artists have been encouraged to express their vision of the new Iraq, to spark the imagination of those who view their work and to provoke thought. The $10,100 grant supported the production of posters designed by twelve different artists. In all, 36,000 posters will be placed in southern Iraq in an effort to engage the public to think about their future in a new way. crucial to the democratic transition, including civic education, civil society and media development, in- creased women’s participa- tion, conflict mitigation and transitional justice. Groups targeted for assistance in- clude women’s and youth groups, professional asso- ciations and human rights organizations. • Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short- term employment, restoring basic government and com- munity services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication and encouraging protection of human rights. • Funded over 60 grants totaling $3 million that focus on women’s issues, includ- ing supporting the establish- ment of 14 women’s centers in Iraq. Rehabilitated over 264 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Sup- porting 65 Iraqi groups in documenting human rights abuses of the Ba’athist re- gime and promoting peace, tolerance, and reconcilia- tion. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 13 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 16, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation RECONSTRUCTION USAID/ANE .........................................................................................................................Subtotal: $3,471,492,418 Abt Associates Health Countrywide $22,624,704 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $91,500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Architecture and Engineering services Countrywide $22,000,000 BearingPoint Economic Governance Countrywide $79,583,885 BearingPoint Economic Governance II Countrywide $20,000,000 Bechtel National Airports, buildings, emergency communications, power, rail- roads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sani- tation Countrywide $1,029,833,259 Bechtel National Infrastructure II: Airports, buildings, emergency communica- tions, power, railroads, roads and bridges, Umm Qasr seaport, water and sanitation, Basra Hospital Countrywide $1,443,359,782 Community Action Program Development in impoverished communities Countrywide $120,080,000 DAI Marshlands Dhi Qar Al Basrah Maysan $4,000,000 DAI Agriculture Countrywide $9,352,912 Fed Source Personnel Support Countrywide $163,572 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $51,698,152 RTI Local Governance Countrywide $236,911,000 America’s Development Foundation Civil Society Countrywide $42,880,157 CAII Education Countrywide $56,503,000 CAII II Education II Countrywide $51,809,000 CEPPS Education Activities in Support of Electoral Processes Countrywide $18,725,000 CEPPS Iraq Governing Council Countrywide $675,000 CEPPS Transitional Government Countrywide $20,700,000 UNICEF Health, Water, and Sanitation Countrywide $36,700,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $19,600,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing and Distribution: Math and Science Countrywide $10,000,000 USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 14 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 16, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation WHO Strengthen Health System Countrywide $10,000,000 SSA Port Management Umm Qasr $14,318,985 SkyLink Airport Management Baghdad Al Basrah Mosul $27,200,000 MSI Monitoring and Evaluation Countrywide $5,038,772 University Partners • The Research Foundation of the State University of New York/Stony Brook and the Universities of Chicago, Boston, and Oxford • The Human Rights Institute, DePaul University College of Law, and Italy’s International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences • University of Hawaii, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, University of Jordan and the American University in Beirut • Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Benetech, US-Iraq Business Resources • University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Cameron University, and Langston University Various universities coun- trywide $20,730,000 Yankee Group Telecoms Planning Countrywide $58,150 VEGA Business Skills Training Countrywide $4,800,000 UNDP Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 World Bank Trust Fund Contribution Countrywide $5,000,000 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/DCHA/OFDA............................................................................................................................. $112,300,477 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $7,389,348 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $5,309,876 ARC Capacity building, Disaster support Al Basrah $537,746 The Cuny Center Research studies Countrywide $40,260 GOAL Coordination, Nutrition Al Muthanna’ $1,507,900 IDA Health Countrywide $1,318,437 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IOM IDP programs Countrywide $6,545,780 Logistics Commodities and DART support Countrywide $22,553,653 UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 USAID/Jordan Support for emergency water activities Countrywide $500,000 WFP Logistics and pre-positioning of food Countrywide $5,000,000 IMC Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Water/Sanitation, Capacity building Countrywide $16,252,898 USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 15 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update Financial Summary September 16, 2004 FY 2003-2004* Implementing Partner Sector Regions Obligation IRC Health, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $7,800,411 Mercy Corps Health, Non-Food Items, Shelter, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $8,499,786 SCF/US Food Security, Health, Shelter, Nutrition, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation, NGO Consortium Countrywide $7,957,783 World Vision Health, Logistics, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $6,793,739 CARE Quick-impact projects, Water/Sanitation, Health, Blankets Countrywide $9,000,000 USAID/DCHA/FFP....................................................................................................................................$425,571,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $45,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 81,500 MT Countrywide $40,337,000 WFP P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 163,820 MT Countrywide $140,234,000 WFP Regional Purchase – 330,000 MT Countrywide $200,000,000 USAID/DCHA/OTI................................................................................................................................... $179,100,299 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $7,042,126 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $7,087,595 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide $153,974,605 Internews Media Countrywide $160,359 Radio SAWA Media Countrywide $400,000 NDI/IRI National Governance Countrywide $650,000 IFES National Governance Countrywide $1,042,315 ICNL Civil Society Countrywide $39,238 Spa War** Inter-Ministry Communications Countrywide $8,703,001 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003/2004 ...............................................................4,188,463,134 * Figures in funding sheet are subject to change and do not represent a final official accounting of USG obligations. ** For accounting purposes, funding for this activity has been obligated by OFDA under an existing interagency agreement. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq 16